Say What?

Kiki was letting Bruce have it on the way to church. We couldn't really tell what exactly she was saying, but one could tell by her tone that he was getting an earful. And then, real clear, she said, "...and you'll do it RIGHT NOW!"

Kiki has been stealing Kate's panties and wearing them over her pull-ups. Yeah, she's probably ready to potty train, but since I just spent a mint on 80 pull-ups I'm not pushing it for another couple of weeks. Kate's not thrilled about this turn of events, and I know sharing underwear IS disgusting. I couldn't help but laugh though, when Kate came running through the living room yelling, "Kiki has my panties in her wallet! She won't give back my panties and they are in her wallet!" I laughed, and laughed, and thought about college. (Just kidding, Dad.)

Weekend Round-Up

We've enjoyed the company of Wes, Christy, Jake, DB, and Sophie this weekend. Inexplicably, the 24th of July just isn't a big deal in Arizona, so the kids were excited about the celebrations.

I daresay it's impossible to get a decent picture of 5 small children.

Kiki and Sophie are cut from the same cloth. Same love of potato bugs, same desire to build a shoe box potato bug house, same shaggy hair, same killer instincts. RIP, potato bugs.

Technology is a blessing because it means we don't have to talk to each other.

Kate "sparkles."

Jake, Sophie, DB, and Kate.

Kiki loved the sparklers, she just didn't want her picture taken.

"You all are lame," said Bruce.

"Let me show you how sparklers are done."

Yesterday was action packed. Kangaroo Zoo in the morning, Mi Ranchito for lunch, swimming in the afternoon, and treats from the ice cream truck at night. I assumed it was an "Ice Cream Man," but no, it was an "Ice Cream Lady." See, gals, all doors have opened for us.

When Kate Takes Pictures...

Kate loves to be behind the lens.

Some actually turn out good.

Some are kind of cool.

Some highlight her mother's rear in a weird way.

Some are downright inexplicable.

Then there's this.

Thank goodness it's Bruce in this pose and not me.

Chasing My First High

The Barratt side of my family had a tradition of gathering together every Sunday at Grandma's house. Grandma was a great cook, and she always had treats. One of my favorites was her lemon squares. I know I have probably elevated the deliciousness of the lemon squares in my mind, but I have never had one as good as the ones my Grandma made. I've made plenty of different recipes only to be disappointed. Finally, however, one has come close. Here it is (from Bakerella):

Lemon Bars

Crust:
1 cup butter
1 3/4 cup flour
2/3 cup confectioner's sugar (plus more for dusting)

Topping:
1 1/2 cup plain sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease and flour a 9 X 13 pan

To make crust:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and confectioner's sugar
Cut in butter until combined and crumbly.
Press mixture into bottom of pan.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

To make topping:
While crust is baking, prepare topping.
In a larger bowl, add sugar, flour, and baking powder.
Then add slightly beaten eggs and lemon juice.
Mix well and pour on top of warm baked crust.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
When cool, dust with confectioner's sugar and refrigerate.
Cut into bars and enjoy them cold!

These were delicious. My Saturday night guests seemed to agree, as we ate the entire pan. Liza made them the very next day, and she endorses them as well. She and I both prefer, however, a greater filling to crust ratio, so I thought I might 1.5 times the filling next time, whereas Liza, who's a minimalist, thought she might halve the crust. Either way, I've satisfied the craving.

Oh Brother, Here Art Thou

Bruce's brothers are in town.

Kiki is ready to Par-Ty.

We got together with old friends.
Bruce, Savannah, Matt, Burke, Mike, Mark, and Clay

"Hey, Becca, why don't you take picture of us jumping?"

"No, no, you hit the button too early."

"Could you please count to 3 so we know when to jump?"

"Is it 1-2-jump on 3, or 1-2-3-jump?"

"You need to be holding the button halfway down? Are you holding the button halfway down?"

Look, a picture of everyone jumping.

That took no time at all.

Burke is teaching Kiki to use the iphone.

She's a quick study.

Burke and Mark

We took a little walk to Battlecreek Falls tonight.

Kate by a "cave."

Mark is either saving Kate, or pushing her in. You decide.

I strategically positioned leaves over Bruce's and Burke's faces.

Actually I didn't. I'm a terrible photographer.

Tan Lines

The bikini is falling into disrepair.

Funny how that happens to a $10 swimsuit that's been worn every day for months.

Anyway, the loop at the neck broke, and I haven't got around to sewing it back, opting instead to tie the two ends together. Which is fine, I guess, until I noticed that Kiki's tan line had crept up above the nipple.

Look how white her hiney is.

It kills me.

Ironically, she's been piling on the layers underneath the swimsuit. When I changed her the other day, I had to peel off her swimsuit bottoms, then a pair of underwear, then a swim diaper, then finally at the bottom, a pull-up. It was dry.

Preston's Birthday Bash

What could be better than a 100 foot slip-n-slide?

Not very much. It's how we celebrated my nephew's birthday.

My brother John took Kiki again and again. The matching outfits were just a coincidence.

Dave, Jill, Kiki, Courtnie, Kate, Kay, and Theo

Kiki doesn't let an enormous diaper wedgie stop her from playing.

Preston's Robot Cake

(My sister-in-law Angie turns out another amazing cake.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PRESTON!!

A little while ago I realized that I was not being a very fun mom this summer. I was starting each day with my own little agenda, and the girls were trapped in that whether they liked it or not. Obviously, they were bored and cranky. I decided that we would have at least one thing to do every day that was just for them- just some little field trip or activity. We've been swimming, to the canyon, to Thanksgiving Point, on play dates, to the movies, and we would have gone to our favorite fro-yo place today except for the girls were so darn naughty at Target that I could not in good conscience reward them with any kind of pleasurable activity.

Here we are at the Children's Discovery Garden.

Ironically, in the middle of my "Planning Summer," my friend Janet has been trying to have a "Spontaneous Summer." So we're pretty much engaged in mind games at all times.

I'm A Work In Progress

I've been challenged by something lately. There is someone in my life that I really need to forgive of something. (That's as many details as you're going to get.) It's been a hard thing for me, because first, I'm in the right. I really am- I'm not deluding myself. Third parties who love me enough to tell me the truth have said, "I'd be mad, too." Second, the person has no remorse for their actions whatsoever.

And I'm angry. Really angry. I was venting last night with two of my nearest and dearest, and they both counseled me to forgive, even if I couldn't forget. "Forgive them all over again every day if you have to." That's what they said. And I thought to myself that I'd really been trying. I'll be honest though, my "trying" has been me praying that this person would just make things right, so I could forgive them. It's been months of that, and this anger is still in me. It's holding me back.

I thought and thought. I'm capable of forgiving. I've done a lot of it in the past, and I know with out a doubt that I've been the recipient on many occasions of the forgiveness of others. I believe in it. This person will not be exiting my life any time soon, so I need to deal with this once and for all. And last night it hit me: "God, forget about changing them. Will you please change me? Please change me into a person who is capable of forgiving them." I feel a little better already. I can at least see a path in front of me.

Water Games for Those With Tight Fists and Strong Stomachs

The girls love to swim. I'm too cheap to buy a daily pass at the local pool, opting for an "odd" pass instead. (No, it isn't a pass for "odd people." You may use your pass on all odd numbered days. It was almost 2/3 cheaper than a daily pass, and I knew we wouldn't swim every day even if I sprang for one.) Therefore, I have a 5 year old child who wishfully asks, "Is it an odd day today?" Tuesday, unfortunately, was EVEN. What were 2 water lovers to do?

Luckily, some water was running down the gutter. UNLUCKILY, it had run through my neighbor's horse pasture before hitting the street. That was no deterrent on a hot July day.

Oh, yeah, drink it up, Kiki.

On the agenda post swim?

Sterilization and Pepto.